An Irishman Abroad

It’s a year since Joe Biden won the White House and yet this week Democrats lost resoundingly in two states he won by a landslide. Marion McKeone joins Jarlath to try to shed some light on why this week’s events could be critical in deciding how the next three years play out. Later in the episode Marion explains why the battle ground has moved to the school curriculums. In the meantime the Supreme Court looks set to allow New Yorkers to carry firearms in public. Marion picks apart the legal arguments involved. There’s even time for a catch up with what those crazy cats at QANON are up to this week.    If you would like a story discussed, get in touch, the Irishman Abroad Liveline is now open. You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 0044 7543 122 330. Why not pose a running question to Irish Olympic Legend Sonia O'Sullivan or ask our America Correspondent Marion McKeone her thoughts on a current talking point Stateside? Of course, if you have an issue wi

What can we learn from the greatest marathoner of all time? Cathal Dennehy travelled to Kaptagat and lived there for 3 days absorbing everything. He chats to Sonia and Jar about exactly what mere mortals can apply to their training. It’s eye-opening stuff to say the least. Sonia also gives us an update on her travels and explains the benefits of incorporating one track session into your training each week. There’s also a hilarious account of a nightmare run Jarlath had on Halloween morning and Sonia’s now legendary tip of the week. To read about Cathal’s trip to Kenya click here. Cathal is an award winning Irish sports journalist and former junior Irish cross country champion. He now writes for publications such as the Independent, the Times and the Guardian. You can find him on Twitter at @Cathal_Dennehy.   Join our running event on strava.com/clubs/irishmanrunningabroad and help raise vitally needed funds for our chosen charity partner jigsaw.ie and all the work they do to support young people in Ireland. W

With over 8 years and 500+ episodes in our ever-growing archive, this week we are delighted to bring you The Athletics Legends Episode which brings you a collection of classic moments in one jam-packed episode from over the years with Irish athletic and Olympic legends including Sonia O'Sullivan, Ronnie Delany, Sinead Diver, Derval O'Rourke and much more. Topics in this exciting bumper episode include the psychology of sport, mental toughness, inner monologue, dealing with injuries, criticism and much more. For over a year now our listeners have been aware of Jarlath's endeavours to run 2,000km in one year for youth mental health charity Jigsaw.ie. It has formed an integral part of our weekly Irishman Running Abroad series with Sonia O'Sullivan which has seen Jarlath take a look at the world of athletics with completely fresh eyes (and tired legs). Visit https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/11392108_jarlath-regan--irishman-running-abroad-.html for more information. To access all of these interviews in full a

Marion McKeone has spent the past week investigating the death of Halyna Hutchins. The cinematographer tragically died when a live round was discharged during the filming of a western starring Alec Baldwin. In this week’s Irishman In America Marion examines the facts of the incident, what is known/unknown at this time and the role that budget cuts might have played in this tragedy that has rocked the world of cinema. In the extended Patreon version of this episode Marion goes deeper into similar incidents that have occurred on movie sets in the recent past. She has spent time working in film production and gives a first hand account of the macho behaviour that often pervades. We get a deeper insight into how the ammunition and guns were stored on this set and a new detail which she has uncovered. It would seem that some of the film prop guns were used by crew to fire live rounds during breaks in filming. Finally Jarlath asks Marion about Alec Baldwin and the bizarre revelling of Trump Jnr in this horrendous i

Whether you’re deep in training or just toying with the idea of running a marathon, today’s episode of An Irishman Running Abroad contains gems of information, tips and anecdotes from two of the most knowledgeable people you could find. One is of course our resident coach and all time athletics legend, the icon, the goat and the former World Champion Sonia O’Sullivan and the other is the brilliant standup comedian and author of “26.2 Miles To Happiness” Paul Tonkinson. Both perspectives are invaluable help in figuring out how you want to approach your race if at all. Sonia answers our listeners questions and gives us an update from the road while Paul delves into the new runner mentality and how he ran a sub 3. Jarlath and Paul know each other from the U.K. comedy circuit but that was before Jar took the plunge. Now Paul offers him the advice he and you will need on using the race to guide you, make better decisions, channel pain and emerge a better human on the other side. It’s a big change from our normal e

Rocky is a very boring movie if he never gets knocked down. You may not know it but our guest this week hit the canvas harder than most. Comedian, writer and broadcaster Oliver Callan joins Jarlath for rare conversation about his early life, new series and that fall from grace. Oliver opens up to Jarlath about finding his niche in a busy impressionist market, how his talent protected him from being bullied at school and he tells the shocking story of escaping from an abusive relationship involving coercive control. Listeners will also be surprised to hear about that part of his career he wishes he could delete.   There’s time to fondly remember Dermot Morgan, a look at why he resisted the urge to travel and Paul Galvin's efforts to stop him performing. We get his thoughts on censorship, his "slight obsession" with Marion Finucane and much more. This is one of those chats where you will want to hear every single minute. So why not pop over to www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad to hear this (and every) episode in f

How did America’s richest people become its most murdered? Today on Irishman In America, Marion McKeone takes us through the most forgotten series of serial killings in American history, the first case for and the reason why the FBI was created. “The Osage Murders” involved mass conspiracy, corruption and violence that extended all the way to Washington. The subject of David Granny’s award winning book, “Killers Of The Flower Moon” is currently in production as a major motion picture but why has it taken this long for the world to acknowledge this horrendous series of crimes against a small group of wealthy native Americans? With the passing of Colin Powell came Donald Trump’s offensive statement. The former President sank to even greater depths this week but how will history remember Powell and do statements like this muddy the water?    If you would like a story discussed, get in touch, the Irishman Abroad Liveline is now open. You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsA

This week we open the mailbag. It’s been bulging for months with a backlog of your questions for Sonia on training, nutrition, injuries and more. Not only does Jarlath get the chance to ask all your questions for the GOAT but he also gets to dip into the raft of questions he has never had the chance to ask. In classic no-nonsense Sonia style, we get the whole truth on each subject and an account of the worst questions she’s ever been asked. There’s even time in the second half for Jarlath to ask if he is difficult to coach. The answer might surprise you. There’s a review of our club event from last weekend and the announcement of an in person event this Sunday in Dublin.   Join our running event on strava.com/clubs/irishmanrunningabroad and help raise vitally needed funds for our chosen charity partner jigsaw.ie and all the work they do to support young people in Ireland. Why not join Jarlath in raising money for Jigsaw by signing up to the Irishman Abroad challenge over at https://www.idonate.ie/event/2576_.

When Brian O’Donovan was offered the plum role of RTÉ News' Washington Correspondent he knew he was taking his family on an adventure. After 2 years of fake news, scandals and turmoil, he had no clue he had only seen the beginnings of the craziness that would follow. With the clarity that Brian’s on site reports are known for, he speaks about what it was like reporting from the front lines of a White House implosion. Brian speaks about adapting to family life in America, why the US media is missing Donald Trump and the challenges of being on duty 24/7 while reporting on the biggest news stories in the world.   Later on Jarlath gets an insight into his early media days in Cork's Red FM, the 10 years he spent at TV3, his experiences of living in America when the Black Lives Matter movement began and much more. Very few have been entrusted with the responsibility of reporting directly from such troubling times. This conversation with Brian O’Donovan gives a rare insight into the impact this kind of work has on a

Does the media have a role to play in the rise of vaccine scepticism in America? Marion McKeone examines the impact of Joe Rogan and other alternative news sources in a week when his interview with CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta drew massive attention. Who is Joe Rogan and why do so many people look up to him? Marion looks at his origins and the choir he appears to preach to. What does the attempt by Texas to prevent vaccine mandates mean and will it produce any change in national policy? Will NBA superstars and other athletes who refuse the vaccine be viewed as martyrs for their cause or spoiled brats unwilling to do everything necessary to win. As usual Marion explains it all.    If you would like a story discussed, get in touch, the Irishman Abroad Liveline is now open. You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 0044 7543 122 330. Why not pose a running question to Irish Olympic Legend Sonia O'Sullivan or ask our America Correspondent Marion McKeone her thought

The experts at Profeet in London welcome Jar (the rookie) and Sonia (the Olympic legend) to their 3D imaging lab and state of the art facility to examine, compare and contrast their running mechanics. In this bumper episode the listener gets to come inside Profeet's incredible Fulham Road facility for Jar and Sonia's first ever road trip adventure episode.  Tom Scales from Profeet talks us through the data and personally sculpts custom insoles for Jar and Sonia based on the information gathered.   In the extended edition the craic is mighty as the results roll in and a few unexpected insights emerge. Hear the reactions as their results are read out, learn why Sonia has a better pain threshold than Jarlath and get a deeper than expected account from Jarlath as he is roasted by Sonia for his shorts selection. There’s also the email of the week and Sonia’s now legendary tip of the week.   Join our running event on strava.com/clubs/irishmanrunningabroad and help raise vitally needed funds for our chosen charity p

Few can have failed to see the Tuam Mother And Baby home scandal as it unfolded across the world’s media. It remains one of the most shocking cases in the history of the state. Today Jarlath meets the fearless woman who uncovered this secret and continues to fight to this day for justice for all the victims of the home. Catherine Corless is not a journalist or a trained investigator. As she explains here for the first time, she is a woman who grew up in a very unusual and at times difficult home. A woman who took a night course in local history. A woman who discovered an awful truth that many to this day are unwilling to accept.  Catherine brings us from that night course classroom to the day the story hit the papers and the truly shocking meeting she had with the religious order responsible for the Tuam home. This is the story of a person who refused to bow down to bullies. Her book, Belonging is out now and all royalties will go to the Tír Na Nóg Orphanage. To hear every episode in full and to gain access

Marion sifts through the ashes of another ridiculous week in American politics and current affairs. She starts with her bizarre visit to the NRA’s AGM in Texas. The focus then turns to Facebook’s hearings where whistleblower Frances Haugen landed a deep blow to the social media giant. Jarlath asks Marion if the slippery Mark Zuckerberg can talk his way out of this one. We take a look back at his previous performances in front of old men with no tech knowledge. In a wide ranging discussion Marion leads us through the latest in the Texas abortion law challenges, William Shatner’s trip to space, Britney’s new lease on life and the most shocking killing of a pharmacist distributing vaccines. Like a knife through butter Marion cuts to the heart of this week’s stories and more.  If you would like a story discussed, get in touch, the Irishman Abroad Liveline is now open. You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 0044 7543 122 330. Why not pose a running questio

Trainers, kicks, runners or whatever you like to call them are the subject of today’s conversation with two Irish sporting icons. The big business of athletic shoes has boomed in the last 30 years beyond all recognition. Today’s runner is expected and recommended to have not one but several pairs to wear on rotation throughout their training week. Jarlath asks Sonia if this is really necessary. Or are shoe companies deliberately making their running shoes less like all round trainers and more like specialised tools? Does the weekend Park Runner need a Swiss Army knife shoe rather than a shoe designed for Kipchogie to run a sub 2 hour marathon? Sonia weighs in with the shoes she loves from today’s selection and the ones she loved back in Cóbh as a teen preparing to take on the world. We get her review of the London marathon and then Marcus O’Sullivan drops in for a quick shoes chat from Villanova University. His tale of taking his spikes to a cobbler with an unusual request and Sonia’s luminous shell suit stor

What is the X factor? When everyone competing in an activity has talent, what is the extra bit that takes one person above and beyond? Irish athletics legend Marcus O'Sullivan might be one of the best qualified people in the world to unravel this. For almost a quarter of a century he has been the head track and field coach at Villanova University and in charge of spotting talented kids who might just have that extra something. He sits down with Jarlath to discuss his own incredible journey from making sails in Kinsale to electrifying the crowds at Madison Square Garden with his infamous final kick.  Marcus discusses the importance of getting comfortable with failure, the philosophy of cheating, technological advances in athletics, the impact Donie Walsh's mentorship had on him, the Irish running boom and of course, his most astonishing achievement - 101 sub 4 minute mile races. This is a one of a kind in-depth conversation with one of the true unsung heroes and early influencers of Irish sport. To hear ever

This week, Marion trawls through a bizarre week in America. R Kelly was finally convicted and Jarlath wants to know why it took this long. Marion explains how the legal establishment has facilitated hush money and NDAs. Will the conviction force the hand of legislators to prevent situations like Kelly’s from occurring again? It looks unlikely if Britney Spears’ toxic conservatorship is anything to go by. This week she aimed to lift the thumb of oppression she has lived under for years. Sarah Grisham’s hilariously titled tell all book is in the crosshairs as Marion pokes fun at some of the revelations contained within it. The Biden vaccination mandate demanding certain government workers take up their doses or lose their jobs appears to have backfired. With police threatening to retire, Jarlath and Marion compare this situation to the NBA’s standoff with some of its biggest stars. Finally there is news on a student political campaign that Jarlath helped to manage. To hear every episode in full and to gain acc

The connection of running to emotion is so direct that it deserves its own episode. Today the greatest Irish track and field athlete of all time examines the mastery of emotional running as a method of self-soothing. Jarlath takes a different approach and examines how running can often bring up dormant emotions resulting in floods of tears while logging miles. He looks at different opinions on why this happens while Trevor Cummins calls the LiveLine to talk about his Berlin marathon experience and how it relates to the topic. Finally we get Sonia's tip of the week and Jarlath has a life hack to make any shoe into a super shoe. Is it nonsense or has uncovered something huge? You'll have to listen to find out.    Join our running event on strava.com/clubs/irishmanrunningabroad and help raise vitally needed funds for our chosen charity partner jigsaw.ie and all the work they do to support young people in Ireland. Why not join Jarlath in raising money for Jigsaw by signing up to the Irishman Abroad challenge over

Mark Pollock returns on the eve of this year’s Run In The Dark. The global fund raising phenomenon has raised millions for his charity Collaborative Cures, The Pollock Trust and funded breakthroughs in the search for a cure for paralysis. Today Mark talks to Jarlath for the first time since their epic first conversation in 2017 about the new journey he has begun, his masterclasses inspired by his own traumatic life experiences, recoveries and passion for the basis for virtual and in person seminars he has travelled the world to give to the world’s most successful companies. Together with Jarlath he digs into the beliefs, science and code that underpins what he preaches. Mark delves deep into brain chemistry, the flow state and how we can reach it on demand. This episode might just change your whole week. To hear the full version and to unlock hundreds of hours of insight from Ireland's best minds, treat yourself to Premium Membership on patreon.com/irishmanabroad.  Supplementary research provided by John Mea

If you haven’t been keeping up this week Marion is here to give you all the latest from the Love Island relationship of America and France. We learn about their many strops of the past and how Biden might be forced to leave the Villa to get flowers and chocolates for Emmanuel. Apologies are off the menu when it comes to Rudi Giuliani and the lawyers who accused Dominion, the makers of the US voting machines of colluding with everyone from the ghost of Hugo Chavez to German hackers in order to steal the election from the Orange Man. Marion looks at their insanity defence while Jarlath wonders if it’s just crazy enough to work. There’s also news on a brilliant feature guest this Sunday you will not want to miss.   To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 500 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad Supplementary research provided by John Meagher. The Irishman Abroad Liveli

Sonia’s international athletics season finished on a high last Friday and before she breaks down everything you need to know about race day prep, she fills us in on a record breaking night for her German athlete Konstanze "Koko" Klosterhalfen. Sonia immediately returned to Cobh and has a chance to rest the only way she knows how, with a bit of active recovery cross training. Jarlath’s own attempts at mixing up his activity left him “in ribbons” and wondering is basketball the worst of all cross training activities. We get the opinion of the Irish athletics icon on why the bike is best, especially if there is a coffee or toasted cheese sandwich destination thrown into the mix. Then it’s on to Sonia’s race day preparation masterclass. We are making this episode available in full to all the listeners to give you a taste of how extensive and enjoyable full episodes are over on Patreon. Head over and sign up to get the full illustrated notes for each conversation including more info and tips from the legend.    Jo